Double-speak

The BBC in Northern Ireland has given ground on its planned cuts to the output of Radio Foyle, but not enough to stop the NUJ going to a full ballot of members on industrial action. 

Originally, the 7-9 Breakfast Show was to be cut entirely; now it's back in the schedules, at a measly half-hour from 8.30 to 9.  Originally, Foyle was to lose its hourly bulletins; now they're back until 3pm. Originally, 36 posts were to go across the BBC in Northern Ireland, at least half of them in the Foyle newsroom; today, the balance sheet is unclear, with talk of 5 new posts.  One weekday show currently produced in Belfast shifts entirely to Foyle - funnily enough it's presented by Hugo Duncan, 72, who lives in Strabane (77 miles from Belfast, 15 miles from Foyle HQ in Londonderry). 

In the current mode of BBC double-speak (shame on you, Kerris Bright and John Shield), these concessions are headlined "BBC Northern Ireland sets out ambitious plans for BBC Radio Foyle". Hope Gary Lineker doesn't pick up on the story...